According to reports from the BBC, Liverpool have rejected a bid from Crystal Palace for out-of-favour striker Christian Benteke. It is believed the London club offered an initial £23 million; however this fee could rise to as high as £30 million with add-ons.
Liverpool reject £30 million bid from Palace for Benteke
Benteke joined Liverpool from Aston Villa for £32.5 million last year after scoring 49 goals in 101 league games. However, the Belgian striker struggled in his first season and was subsequently left out of the first team by Jürgen Klopp. Many sources have claimed that Liverpool are keen to re-coup all of the £32.5 million spent on the 25-year-old. Despite his limited chances Benteke did manage to score nine league goals for the Reds last season. However, it is clear that the Belgian does not fit Klopp’s style of play.
The 25-year-old still has four years left on his contract, however he is falling massively down the pecking order for the Reds. In March, Benteke said “cannot understand why Klopp ‘ignores’ him”, and it looks extremely doubtful the Belgian will be at Anfield come the end of the transfer window. The addition of Sadio Mané this summer has put Benteke further down the pecking order. Furthermore, Liverpool have depth up front with Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings, as well as Roberto Firmino as cover in a false nine role.
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is keen to bolster his attacking strength. Both Dwight Gayle and Yannick Bolasie have left the club. Strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Marouane Chamakh have also left after their contract’s expired. The 55-year-old is set to reinvest the money they received from selling Bolasie to Everton on Benteke. However, Pardew accused the striker of diving after Palace’s 2-1 home defeats to Liverpool last season.
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